Christmas: dates, history, traditions. Christmas: how to celebrate, the Christmas table and folk traditions How the world learned about the birth of the Savior, how the world perceived it
A couple of years ago, on the eve of Christmas, French sociology students conducted a survey among their peers walking around Paris. There was only one question: "What do we celebrate at Christmas?" The suggested responses might seem like a joke: "at Christmas they celebrate the end of the Christmas sales" and "at Christmas they celebrate the arrival of the "Père Noël" (Father of Christmas) with gifts", "Christmas is a holiday in honor of the installation of the Christmas tree" and " Christmas is like a rehearsal for the New Year", "Christmas is the beginning of the twelve-day winter holidays from December 25 to January 6" and even "Christmas is a holiday associated with the release of a new Christmas comedy film". Only one answer mentioned God: "Christmas is the birthday of Christ."
Of course, the survey could be considered a student joke, if not for the frighteningly small number of respondents who remembered Christ on this great holiday. Firmly believing that this is impossible among our youth, we nevertheless decided to briefly, concisely state what the essence of the Christmas holiday is and how to spend it correctly. Let's get started. Moreover, those who have long fallen under the +18 category can read the text.
1. What do we celebrate on Christmas day?
Incarnation. That is, the birth of God in the human race. Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary the Savior.
2. What is the difference between New Year and Christmas?
Two winter holidays and those standing next to each other on the calendar have completely different meanings. New Year - the beginning of a conditional period of time invented by people, the beginning of a new calendar year. By celebrating this day, we pay tribute to human institutions. This date is not so difficult to shift, which was done in 1918, when Lenin signed the "Decree on the introduction of the Western European calendar in the Russian Republic." Celebrating the Nativity of Christ, we re-experience an event of a completely different significance - the birth of Jesus Christ. The advent of the Savior into our world is a turning point in the history of mankind.
But since the events underlying NG and RH are completely incomparable in significance, then the traditions that have become attached to these holidays are also incomparable in their depth. The Soviet tradition of celebrating the New Year can only be attributed to Olivier salad, champagne, the permanent Blue Light and a Christmas tree that migrated here from Christmas. Orthodox Christmas traditions have deep roots and symbolism. About them later, first about the very birth of the Savior.
3. How did the birth of Jesus happen?
We remember that nine months before the birth of Christ, and, therefore, the Nativity of Christ, an event takes place, called the "Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary", when the Archangel Gabriel brings the Good News to the Mother of God (hence the "Annunciation") that she will become the Mother of God : "Rejoice, full of grace! The Lord is with you, blessed are you among women." Mary was embarrassed by these words, but the Angel continues: "Do not be afraid, Mary, for You have found grace with God, You will give birth to a Son and call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the son of the Most High, and His Kingdom will have no end." The name Jesus means "Savior". Mary, bewildered, asks the Angel: "How will it be when I don't know my husband?" And the Angel answers: "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you, and the one who is born will be called the Son of God." Thus begins the history of our salvation, the history of the coming of God into our world, the history of the Incarnation.
At that time, Judea was conquered by the Roman Empire and entered its eastern provinces. In order to streamline the taxation system, the autocratic emperor of the Roman Empire Octavian Augustus (63 BC - 14 AD) decides to conduct a census of his eastern provinces. Moreover, the Jews must correspond according to their place of origin. Both Elder Joseph, who became engaged to Mary and took care of her, and the Virgin Mary herself, were descendants of the famous biblical king David (died about 970 BC), who came from Bethlehem. The descendants of King David were deprived of the throne in the VI century BC. e. and for a long time already lived in the same way as the rest of the Jews, not standing out among them in any way. However, the prophets long before the birth of Christ announced that the Savior, the Messiah would come from the lineage of David, and that is why we focus on such an important fact. So, since the Virgin Mary and Joseph come from the family of King David, and their distant ancestor was a native of Bethlehem, then the expectant Mary, along with Joseph, had to make a long journey from the Galilean city of Nazareth, where they live, to Bethlehem - a city for them stranger. Census, how can one disobey the emperor's decree?
Due to the influx of people, there is no place for the Holy Family in the hotels of Bethlehem, and they stop outside the city, in a cave - here shepherds drive cattle in bad weather. In this cave at the Virgin Mary at night the Baby is born - the Son of God, Christ the Savior of the world. Mary swaddles her Son and puts it in a manger - where they usually put fodder for livestock. And the animals warm the Divine Infant with their breath. As it is sung on these holidays in temples, mangers have become "a receptacle for the incapable God." On the one hand, incomprehensible in His Majesty God, but, at the same time, a helpless Infant. In this inseparable unity of divine nature with human nature lies the mystery of the incarnation. A mystery that we, people, are not given to know, but which we can feel - with our hearts.
4. How did the world know about the birth of the Savior, how did the world perceive it?
The Bethlehem shepherds are the first to know about the birth of the Savior. That night they are pasturing their flocks in the field, when suddenly an Angel of God appears before them: “Do not be afraid!” he says, “I proclaim to you great joy, which will be not only for you, but for all people: now I was born in the city David's (that is, in Bethlehem) Savior, here is a sign for you: you will find the Infant in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
But the shepherds were not the only ones who bowed to the Divine Infant. The Mother of God and Joseph, together with the Infant Jesus, were still in Bethlehem, when the wise men and astrologers came to Jerusalem from the far east. They, too, have been waiting for a long time for the birth of the One Who will become the Messiah - the Savior. In Jerusalem, outlandishly dressed aliens from the east begin to ask: "Where is the newborn King of the Jews? We saw His star rise, and we came to worship Him!" Hearing this, the hypochondriac and cruel king of Judea Herod "was agitated, and with him all Jerusalem." From the connoisseurs of Holy Scripture, the frightened Herod learns that the prophets foreshadowed the birth of the King of the Jews, the Savior, in the line of David, in the city of Bethlehem. Suspicious Herod does not even think that the kingdom of the newborn Lord of Israel will be "not of this world," that it is not the kingdom of the earth, but the Kingdom of Heaven. It's all too complicated for the cruel impostor Herod. And Herod is indeed a monster - he ordered the execution of his wife and children only on suspicion that they intend to deprive him of power.
So, having heard that a possible competitor has already been born, Herod calls to himself the unsuspecting Magi, learns from them the time of the birth of the Messiah and sends them to Bethlehem with an insidious mission: "Go, carefully scout about the Baby and, when you find it, inform me so that I may go and worship Him."
The Magi are on their way to Bethlehem, and a new star shows them the way.
So, led by a star, the magi go to Bethlehem. And the star stopped over the place where the Child was. And when they saw the star, they rejoiced with great joy, and entering the house, they saw the Child with Mary, His Mother, and, falling down, worshiped Him; and, opening their treasures, brought Him gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh. And, having received a revelation in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed by another way to their country. And when they departed, behold (behold), the Angel of the Lord appears in a dream to Joseph and says: Arise, take the Child and His mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod wants to seek the Child in order to destroy Him ... "
Thus, with homelessness and wanderings, the life of Christ begins.
When the Savior was born, people reacted differently to this event. Some, like magicians, with a pure heart, went to meet Him in order to rejoice. Others, like Herod, decided to destroy Him. There were also indifferent people who did not let the Mother of God into their house to spend the night. They didn't care, they were incapable of mercy, compassion. With the tacit consent of such people, evil is done. And those, and others, and third are among us. And each of us daily faces a choice: with whom is he? Where is he? With Christ, or for Herod? Or maybe he just took refuge in his cozy little world and would not let someone else's misfortune and pain in there, and, therefore, he would not let the Lord in either.
5. Traditions of celebrating the Nativity of Christ
First, the feast of the Nativity of Christ itself begins with expectation. And the main thing in this expectation is the fast, which lasts from November 28 to January 6. Fasting prepares the spirit and body for the perception of the very event of the Nativity of Christ, for participation in it. Just as the Magi went to Bethlehem and expected to see the born Christ, prepared for this meeting, brought him gifts, so we, while fasting, make a spiritual path and bring our spiritual gifts to the Lord. This is the anticipation of the holiday. And there is also the approach of the holiday. The approximation lies in the fact that on the eve of January 6, a day of very strict fasting takes place, when juicy is prepared - a dish of wheat and honey. On this day, they do not eat "until the first star" in memory of the Star of Bethlehem, which showed the Magi the way to the birthplace of the Savior. Christmas Eve is in preparation - people are preparing for Confession and Communion, in order to take communion on the feast of the Nativity of Christ, they are preparing a Christmas meal.
Secondly, realizing how important the external side of events is for us people, the Church prepares us for the holiday and special Christmas traditions. An evergreen Christmas tree is placed in the houses - a symbol of eternal life, which Christ gave us.
The star that crowns our Christmas trees reminds us of the Bethlehem star that lit up when Jesus was born, the star that led the Magi to the Divine Infant, showed them the way.
On Christmas Eve, it is customary to put a burning candle on the windows. There is also deep meaning. A candle is a symbol of the human soul that burns before God. It burns and lights the way for others. A lit candle in the window before Christmas shows that Christ is expected in this house. Because the meaning of our celebration is the birth of Christ in our heart.
And, finally, when we give gifts for Christmas, we become like the magi - the wise men of the East, who brought their gifts to the Divine Infant: gold, frankincense and myrrh. These gifts of the Magi were also deeply symbolic: gold, as for the King, frankincense, as for God, and myrrh, fragrant ointment used at burial, as for a mortal man.
6. What is the meaning of the Feast of the Nativity of Christ?
The mystery of the Incarnation is inaccessible to the human mind. But this greatest, Divine mystery of the incarnation is connected with two other mysteries close to the heart of everyone: the secret of birth and the secret of love.
Everyone knows the joy that we experience when a person is born, each of us, at least once, came into contact with the secret of love. That is why the events of the Nativity of Christ, for all their incomprehensibility, are close to everyone's heart, and the series of events of this holiday is understandable even to the smallest children. The Savior is born in the human race, this is not some abstract God sent to us, who has no kinship and connection with people. God takes human flesh. He, born of the Holy Spirit, accepts our entire psychophysical world. Because in order to save a person, it was necessary to know him to the end, it was necessary to go through the entire earthly path of a person - from birth, through suffering, to death. And God goes this way, and does it out of love for us.
7. Why is the Christmas holiday needed?
God comes into our world in the silence of the Bethlehem night, and the very fact of His birth is already our approach to God, because, according to Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh: "Every person, by the very fact that he is a person, is attached to the mystery of Christ." From now on, man is not alone in this world. “Christ became Man so that all of us, all without a trace, including those who have lost all faith in themselves, know that God believes in us, believes in us in our fall, believes in us when we ourselves have lost faith in each other. friend and in himself, he believes in such a way that he is not afraid to become one of us." “God became Man so that man could become God,” this is how the holy martyr of the 2nd century, Irenaeus of Lyon, formulated the great mystery of the Incarnation.
Catholics celebrate Christmas a little earlier than Orthodox believers. The great event is annually celebrated at the end of December.
For the Catholic Church, Christmas is the main religious holiday. Every year on December 25, Catholics remember the amazing story of this event, decorate their homes and give their loved ones Christmas gifts. Despite the fact that each church celebrates this day in accordance with its faith, nevertheless, some traditions are similar.
Catholic Christmas in 2017
Every year, Catholic Christmas falls on December 25, and Orthodox Christmas falls on January 7. Why is the same holiday celebrated on different days? Since 1582, many countries of the world began to calculate time following the Gregorian calendar, which is why most religious events among Catholics and Orthodox believers do not coincide. The Orthodox Church calculates events according to the Julian calendar, where Christmas falls on January 7th.
The difference in the dates of the celebration of Christmas did not affect the significance of the holiday. On this day, believers celebrate the birth of the Great Infant, who became the Savior of all mankind. His appearance in the world was a real miracle. The Lord chose the Virgin Mary as the Mother of Jesus Christ, and sent an angel to inform her of this news. Her husband Joseph at first did not believe in this and threatened to annul the marriage. However, the messenger of God explained to him that this child is the blessing of the King of Heaven, and Joseph needs to raise and love him as his own son. Even before the birth, the couple went to Bethlehem with the hope of settling in a hotel, but they did not succeed. Mary and Joseph were forced to camp in the barn. The first to see the Son of God were the shepherds. The star that shone in Bethlehem also led three wise men there, who brought gold, frankincense and myrrh as a gift to the child. Herod, having learned about the appearance of the Divine Infant, decided to kill all the children under two years old, but Jesus Christ was able to avoid death. An angel appeared to Joseph and warned him of the evil intentions of the king, and they, together with the child and Mary, went to Egypt, where they lived until the death of Herod.
How Catholics Celebrate Christmas
Christmas is one of the twelfth holidays and is one of the non-transitory. For both Catholics and Orthodox believers, the date of Christmas is unchanged. Despite the common history of the holiday, the traditions of this day are still different.
Advent is a kind of preparation for the Nativity of Christ. People purify their body and soul and prepare to meet the Great Infant with dignity. For Catholics, this period is called Advent, and it lasts four weeks.
Decorating the house with fir branches wreaths with candles is another Catholic Christmas tradition. The round shape of the wreath symbolizes eternal life, the green color is the embodiment of life, the fire is the light that illuminates the whole world on Christmas Day.
Figurines of the Virgin Mary and the Infant Christ are installed in houses and churches. It can also be Christmas decorations, installations and just paintings.
On Christmas Day, Catholics attend Mass, a Christmas church service. During it, the priest puts the figure in the form of the Child of God into the manger and consecrates it. At this moment, people can feel like participants in this Great event.
Christmas treats are different in every country. In England and America, it is customary to serve turkey, in Spain - pork, and in Latvia - fish. There must be plenty of dishes so that guests leave full and satisfied.
For Orthodox believers, Christmas will come only on January 7th. However, even before it comes, you can find out what awaits you in 2018. Christmas fortune-telling is much stronger and more truthful than usual, because it is on this day that we can achieve unity with the Higher powers. The site site team wishes you happiness and success, and don't forget to press the buttons and
22.12.2017 05:58
One of the main church holidays, called the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, has a rich history and many traditions, ...
Christmas is the greatest holiday celebrated by Christians all over the world, regardless of which denomination of the Christian church they belong to. Different countries have their own rituals and traditions for Christmas. Catholic Christmas in 2017 will be celebrated on December 25, while Orthodox Christians celebrate the birth of Christ on January 7.
Among Catholic Christians who celebrate Christmas, there are several hypotheses regarding the date of the most significant and emotional holiday of the year. Disputes about the exact day when God's Son was born into the world continue to this day. It is impossible to deny the fact that it is one of the most ancient Christian holidays.
Even in 4 tbsp. BC e. it entered the religious calendar and began to be celebrated in families that honor the Lord God, His Only Begotten Son and the Holy Spirit. According to the Gregorian time reckoning, the date of the holiday falls on December 25, 9 months after the day. Perhaps such a date was set for convenience, or perhaps there is a special meaning in this.
On December 25, Christmas is celebrated by Catholics, Baptists, followers of the Anglican and Lutheran confessions, as well as Orthodox who live in the West.
Some features of the celebration of Christmas
Regardless of which denomination of Christianity you belong to, on the day of the Nativity of Christ you need to follow the basic rules and traditions that are identical for Catholics and Orthodox:
- Strict post on the eve of Christmas;
- Confession and communion;
- attendance at worship;
- Festive table with obligatory traditional dishes;
- Exchange of good wishes and gifts.
Advent: the month of preparation for Christmas for Catholics
Pre-Christmas traditions are filled with a special ritual meaning. During the Advent period - the time of waiting for the Nativity of Christ - Catholic believing Christians must spiritually cleanse themselves before the holiday: repent of sins, confess and take communion. This month should be spent thinking about life, the good deeds of the Savior.
Members of the clergy wear purple robes. Also, on each of the Sundays preceding the Nativity of Christ, special thematic services are held:
- First Sunday - it is reminded of how Jesus Christ appeared to the people, as well as the appearance of the Mother of God to people;
- Second Sunday - describes the transition from the Old Testament to the New Testament Scripture;
- Third Sunday - the service is dedicated to mentioning the life and deeds of John the Baptist;
- Fourth Sunday of Advent - believing Catholic Christians hear about the coming of Jesus Christ into our world.
At the same time, each of the four weeks of the month of Advent is assigned to a certain biblical event and the commemoration of a certain biblical character. Church rules suggest a peaceful and calm time. Recreational activities during this period are not accepted.
On the day before the holiday, December 24, Catholics do not eat anything except sochi - boiled barley or wheat grains flavored with honey. A strict fast ends at the very moment when the first star appears in the winter sky. Throughout, true Catholics are supposed to remember the events told in the Gospel that relate to the birth of the Savior.
In the temples, a night service is performed - the vigil.
Celebration traditions
Since the Middle Ages, true Catholics have begun to install themed mangers in temples and churches for the feast of the Nativity of Christ. Thus, the impromptu scene of the birth of God's Son was reminiscent of that happy day when the baby Jesus was born.
Over time, the custom passed to the houses of the parishioners - in each dwelling on the windowsill they put a special grotto called "saton", and place in it small figures of the Virgin Mary, her husband Joseph, a heavenly angel who descended from heaven to greet the future Savior, animals and shepherds who came to pay their respects. Of course, on a bed of hay or in a manger they put a tiny figurine of a baby called by the Lord God to save our souls.
Also, a fluffy green beauty tree is installed in the houses. The whole family usually decorates the Christmas tree before Christmas itself, on Christmas Eve. On the facades of houses, and in the yards they place themed decorations.
The front door must be decorated with a Christmas wreath made from spruce branches and decorated to the taste of the owners of the house. Someone hangs a sprig of mistletoe in the house and if a man and a woman are under it at the same time, they should kiss.
To please the children, personalized Christmas socks are hung over the fireplace, intended for gifts from Santa Claus, who sneaks into the house on Christmas night, regales himself with cookies prepared for him, drinks milk and presents obedient children and their parents.
This good tradition supports children's faith in magic. On Christmas morning, in addition to small gifts in socks over the fireplace, children find beautifully wrapped gifts under the tree. The whole house is filled with cheerful laughter and the rustle of wrapping paper.
After Christmas Eve, the eight-day Octave begins - a period characteristic of Catholic Christianity, dedicated to folk festivals, carols, and general fun. Since pagan times, such a tradition has come as “igniting a log” - a Christmas log smeared with oils and honey, sprinkled with wheat, is solemnly burned. This custom is designed to bring wealth and good luck to the house.
Despite some differences between Catholic and Orthodox Christmas, the essence of this great holiday remains the same. No wonder most clergy agree that the Lord God is one for all.
Christmas is one of the most significant, beloved and long-awaited religious celebrations for residents of 145 countries. On this day, all believing Christians rejoice at the news of the birth of Jesus Christ, celebrate the new calendar cycle and welcome the renewal of all life on Earth.
Modern traditions have brought another custom to this holiday - in addition to a delicious dinner and general fun, now it is customary to pamper relatives with pleasant surprises at Christmas. It is not surprising that people prepare for this celebration in advance, looking forward to a warm family evening, sincere conversation and a festive table. But the peculiarities of the Gregorian and Julian chronology led to the fact that the celebration of Christmas among representatives of different branches of Christianity does not take place on the same day.
Christmas is an important family holiday for all Orthodox believers
Those who adhere to Catholicism and Protestantism celebrate the birth of Jesus on the night of December 24 to 25, and the Orthodox feast begins on the night of 6 to 7 January. The customs of Christmas also depend on the country and the religion generally accepted in it. Let's talk about what Christmas will be like in 2018 to learn more about its features and brightest traditions.
THE ORIGINS OF THE CELEBRATION
The history of the emergence of Christmas and its modern traditions is a harmonious combination of pagan beliefs and Christian denomination. The first adherents of the Christian doctrine tried to weave church customs into the ancient religious rites familiar to the newly converted flock. So, the custom of decorating a Christmas tree in winter appeared long before Christmas and New Year. It originated in the German lands, whose tribal communities celebrated Yule every winter - a celebration dedicated to the winter solstice.
Local residents went to the forest to decorate the most beautiful spruce with food and items that caused the favor of the gods of the pantheon they revered. Around the same time as modern Christmas, the inhabitants of Ancient Rome began the Saturnalia - several thematic festivities glorifying a god named Saturn. The Romans at this time had fun, rested and, of course, made sacrifices to the glory of the deity, who patronized agriculture and bestowed a rich harvest.
Our Slavic ancestors celebrated the holiday of Kolyada in winter days - this mythological character refracted the course of winter, allowing the days to become longer. With this celebration, the onset of the next calendar period was associated. In honor of Kolyada, songs were sung calling for fertility and a good harvest in the new agricultural year. The singers were rewarded with money and food, and the songs themselves are still called carols and remain an unchanging Christmas tradition among Orthodox people.
ON THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST
Canonical texts
A detailed story about the birth of Jesus Christ is given only by the evangelists Luke and Matthew (Gospel of Matthew, chapter 1):
OK. 2:4-7: “In those days a command went out from Caesar Augustus to make a census of all the earth. This census was the first in the reign of Quirinius over Syria. Joseph also went from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, called Bethlehem, because he was from the house and family of David, to register with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for her to give birth; and she gave birth to her firstborn son, and swaddled him, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in an inn.
According to the decree of the emperor, in order to facilitate the conduct of the census, each inhabitant of the empire had to appear "in his city." Since Joseph was a descendant of David and Mary was betrothed to Joseph, they went to Bethlehem.
After the birth of Jesus, the first of the people to bow to him were the shepherds, informed of this event by the appearance of an angel. According to the Evangelist Matthew, a wonderful star appeared in the sky, which led the magi to the baby Jesus. They presented gifts - gold, frankincense and myrrh; not as a baby, but as a King (Matt. 2:1-3). By that time, the Holy Family had already found shelter "in the house" (Matt. 2:1-11).
Having learned about the birth of the Messiah and wishing to destroy Him, the king of Judea Herod ordered to kill all babies under the age of 2 years. However, Christ was miraculously saved from death because an angel commanded Joseph to flee to Egypt with his family, where they lived until the death of Herod (Matthew 2:16).
Apparently, first, on the 8th day after the birth of Jesus, His circumcision took place (Luke 2:21), and on the 40th day the sacrifice in the Jerusalem temple (Luke 2:22-38), and only then the adoration of the Magi, the flight into Egypt and the massacre of the babies.
Apocryphal sources
The story about the details of the birth of Jesus Christ is present in two apocryphal sources: the Proto-Gospel of James and the Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew. According to these sources, due to the lack of a place in the hotel, Joseph and Mary were forced to spend the night in a cave, which was used as a barn to shelter cattle from the weather.
When Mary felt the onset of childbirth, Joseph went to look for the midwife, but when he returned with her to the cave, the birth had already taken place, and such a light shone in the cave that they could not bear it, and a little while later the light disappeared and the baby appeared, came out and took the breast of his mother Mary. According to Cyprian of Carthage, Mary "did not need any services from her grandmother, but she herself was both a parent and a servant of birth, and therefore gives reverent care to her baby." He writes that the birth of Christ occurred before Joseph brought the midwife. At the same time, Salome is called an old woman and a relative of Mary, that is, she comes from the family of King David.
Salome the midwife, mentioned in the apocrypha, testified to the miracle of preserving the virginity of the Virgin, and her image entered the iconography of the Nativity of Christ and folk customs associated with childbirth.
ORIGIN OF THE DATE
Christians have long argued about when the birth of God's son should be celebrated - the year and date of this event still remain a mystery, hidden for centuries.
Attempts to establish the year of Christ's birth from the dates of related events (the years of the reign of emperors, kings, consuls, etc.) did not lead to any specific date. The historical Jesus appears to have been born between 7 and 5 BC. e. The date December 25 is first given by Sextus Julius Africanus in his chronicle, written in 221.
The reckoning laid at the foundation of our era was made in 525 by a Roman monk, papal archivist, Dionysius the Small. Dionysius may have been based on data from the Chronographic Collection for the year 354 (Chronographus anni CCCLIIII). Here the birth of Jesus is attributed to the year of the consulate of Gaius Caesar and Aemilius Paul, that is, to 1 AD. e. The entry in the Chronograph of 354 looks like: Hos cons. dominus Iesus Christus natus est VIII Kal. Ian. d. Ven. luna XV ("Under these consuls, the Lord Jesus Christ was born on the 8th day before the January kalends on Friday of the 15th moon"), that is, December 25th.
In various modern studies, the dates of the birth of Jesus are in the interval between 12 BC and 12 BC. e. (the moment of the passage of Halley's comet, which could be the Star of Bethlehem) until 7 AD. BC, when the only known census was conducted during the period described. However, dates after 4 B.C. e. unlikely for two reasons. First, according to the gospel and apocryphal data, Jesus was born in the time of Herod the Great, who died in 4 BC. e. (according to other sources, in 1 BC). Secondly, if we accept later dates, then it turns out that by the time of his sermon and execution, Jesus would have been too young.
As researcher Robert D. Myers notes: “The biblical description of the birth of Jesus does not contain an indication of the date of the event. But Luke's account (Luke 2:8) that "there were shepherds in the field keeping watch of their flock by night" indicates that Jesus was born in summer or early autumn. Since December in Judea is cold and rainy, the shepherds would most likely seek shelter for their flock at night. However, according to the Talmud, the shepherds tending their flocks for temple sacrifices were in the fields even thirty days before Easter, i.e. in February, when the amount of rain in Judea is very significant, which refutes the opinions of critics.
Setting the date for Christmas
The first Christians were Jews and did not celebrate Christmas, since, according to Jewish doctrine, the birth of a person is “the beginning of sorrows and pains.” However, King Herod, on the occasion of his birthday, made a feast for his nobles, the commanders of thousands and the elders of Galilee. (Mark 6:21).”
For Christians, the feast of the Resurrection of Christ (Easter) has been and is more important from a doctrinal point of view. The emerging gnostic heretics considered Jesus to be an ordinary person, on whom the Holy Spirit descended only during baptism in the Jordan. The Baptism of the Lord was for them the main holiday, which they appointed on January 6 (19) - the sixth day of the year, in the image of the sixth day in which Adam was created, on the sixth day of the week, the Redemption of all mankind also took place.
Christians consider Jesus Christ God from the moment of his incarnation, therefore his baptism was called Theophany, and on this day the events of not only the baptism of Christ in the Jordan, but also his birth, the adoration of the Magi, the turning of water into wine at a marriage in Cana of Galilee, the saturation of many people and other manifestations of the Divine power of the Savior.
December 25 as the day of "the birth of Christ in Bethlehem of Judea" is first mentioned by the Roman Chronograph of 354, based on a calendar dating back to 336. On the same day, the Roman civil holiday N(atalis) Invicti is celebrated there. This relatively late evidence suggests that Christmas was a post-Nicene holiday instituted in opposition to and in reaction to the dies natalis solis invicti (Birthday of the Invincible Sun) instituted in 274 by Emperor Aurelian.
According to another point of view, the Donatists celebrated Christmas even before the 4th century (perhaps as early as 243), and its date has already been calculated.
The date of the celebration of the Annunciation was set on March 25 (April 7), since by the time the Julian calendar was established, the spring equinox most often fell on March 25 - a kind of image of the balance of two natures in Jesus Christ: Divine and human. Adding to this date 9 months - the period of human pregnancy - accordingly gives December 25 (January 7). Just on December 25, at the same time, the day of the winter solstice fell, after which the duration of daylight hours in the Northern Hemisphere of the Earth begins to arrive, which was the reason for the pagan peoples to consider December 25 the birthday of the sun god. For Christians, the Sun of Truth is Jesus Christ, and December 25 is very symbolic for his birth (other Russian Christmas). Therefore, the Nativity of Christ was also perceived as a holiday of light, and in Christian churches they began to put a branchy tree with many lamps - a prototype of the Christmas tree.
In the 4th century, the East (except for the Armenian Church) and the West borrowed each other's dates, establishing separate holidays for Christmas and Epiphany. However, the date of the celebration of the Annunciation is not always rigidly tied to Christmas: in the Ambrosian rite, the last (sixth) Sunday of Advent is dedicated to the remembrance of the Annunciation, in the Mozarabic - December 18th.
CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS IN THE COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD
The day leading up to Christmas - also known as Christmas Eve - is celebrated in all religious Christian denominations. Orthodox Christmas Eve falls on January 6, and among Catholics and Protestants - on December 24. Both those and others celebrate the holiday with special splendor and last more than one day, however, each religious branch has its own iconic traditions.
CATHOLIC CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS
Before the onset of the triumph of all Catholics, the Advent period awaits - a four-week fast, during which believers prepare for the celebration. Christmas is celebrated until January 1, and each day is dedicated to a specific biblical event.
Kissing under the mistletoe is one of the most important traditions of Catholic Christmas.
So, December 26 believers honor the memory of the First Martyr Stephen, the next day they bless the wine and remember the deeds of John the Theologian, 28 January ministers of Catholic churches bless the children, honoring the memory of the Bethlehem Infants. On the eighth day, the Holy Family is remembered, and 1st of January celebrate the holiday dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Of course, in addition to this, each Catholic state has its own interesting customs.
England. Locals decorate their homes with handicrafts and branches of evergreens, which include ivy, holly and mistletoe. Couples who met under a wreath of these branches are sure to kiss. A lot of dishes are prepared for the festive table, however, a baked turkey, traditional bread and pudding poured with rum dressing are an indispensable attribute of the festive feast. Preparing a real Christmas pudding is a whole sacrament, because the cooking process begins a month before the holiday. Oatmeal is boiled in a strong broth, and then bread crumbs, sweet honey, almond pieces, prunes and raisins are added to the dish. After cutting the turkey, several family members tell fortunes on the chest fork - it is pulled in different directions to break it. Whoever gets a long piece of bone will be happy throughout the year;
USA. Americans also indulge in holiday turkey, but unlike England, where it's served with gooseberry sauce, it's spiced with cranberry sauce. Be sure to prepare dishes from green peas, beans and baked pumpkin, as well as carrot and apple pies.
Germany. The Germans love to arrange theatrical fair booths, so in Munich or Berlin you can see a rather creepy procession - devils with black painted faces or scary horned masks participate in it. A lot of gingerbread is prepared on the table, a goose with prunes is baked, a dish with dried fruits and nuts is placed, as well as a sweet ceremonial bread called stollen;
France. The French consider Christmas not only a family holiday, but also a children's holiday, so they prepare a lot of gifts for the kids. In addition to a kind character named Per Noel, who delivers pleasant surprises at night, Per Fuetard can also come at Christmas, punishing naughty children with spanking. However, now it is nothing more than a horror story, because the inhabitants of France have not used rods for a long time. On the Christmas table, you will definitely see Bouche de Noel - a chocolate cake, the name of which fully corresponds to its appearance, because it is decorated in the form of a stylized log. Well, besides the cake, the housewives prepare deep-fried cheese balls, stuffed capon, potatoes and other vegetables;
Italy. The Italians are very religious, so special attention in this country is given to the Christmas nativity scene. It is modified every year, adding new figures, mountains, waterfalls, houses and lawns to brag to the neighbors. Spruces and many flowers are brought into the houses. The festive table is bursting with all sorts of dishes - here you can treat yourself to dumplings in meat broth, yeast cakes stuffed with dried fruits, capons and baked meat, chocolate and fine wines;
Czech. Czechs perform one traditional action on the holiday - they go out on the night before Christmas to the river bank to buy fish from fishermen and release it into the water. It is believed that this will bring good luck for the whole year. However, this does not prevent them from buying carps in shops and markets in order to bake them in sour cream and serve them on the festive table. The next day after Christmas (on the feast of St. Stephen), the Czechs have another tradition - to drive men and guys out of their homes who are unemployed and do not seek to find it;
Spain. Residents of Spain begin to prepare for their favorite holiday from the second half of November. The streets and trees are adorned with various lamps and garlands, and Christmas delicacies appear on the shelves of shops, including marzipan, anise-flavored lollipops, special turron nougat, candied fruits and nuts. Surprises are prepared for friends and colleagues in the form of Christmas baskets filled with wine, jamon, cheese and sweets. Windows and squares are decorated with henbane - thematic layouts that repeat popular stories from the Bible. One of the main traditions is the holding of the Christmas lottery - students of the Catholic school are responsible for choosing the winning tickets, who draw the numbers and sing them to the participants. On the ceremonial table, in addition to baked duck and sweet pastries, there may also be a variety of seafood.
ORTHODOX CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS
For Orthodox believers, the day of the Nativity of Christ is preceded by a period of fasting, during which believers cleanse their thoughts of bad thoughts and prepare their soul and body for a religious celebration. Two weeks before Christmas Eve, the commemoration of the forefathers and fathers (the Old Testament righteous) begins. 5 days before the feast, a period of reading special prayers begins, and after that - a celebration dedicated to the Cathedral of the Most Holy Theotokos.
At this time, hymns are sung in churches, glorifying the Mother of God. This celebration, dedicated to the miracle of the Incarnation, is one of the most ancient Christian traditions. Orthodox celebrate Christmas until Epiphany - this period is called Christmastide and has many interesting customs in which Christian rites and pagan rituals of the ancient Slavs are closely intertwined.
The day preceding Christmas, our ancestors dedicated to good deeds - those who had a lot of food and money donated them to charity, helping the poor and the sick. In the morning on Christmas Eve, the general cleaning of the house began - all corners were swept and washed, utensils and dishes were polished to a shine. In the evening, after going to the bathhouse, all family members put on smart and new clothes.
Of course, the Orthodox traditions of the festival differ in different countries, but the descendants of the ancient Slavs have a lot in common for good reason. So, in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine, it is believed that on Christmas the spirits of dead ancestors visit the houses, so in the villages sheaves tied with bright ribbons were set up for them. In the Ukrainian tradition, such a sheaf is called "didukh" - from the word "grandfather", which means not only a male relative, but also any ancestor.
Christmas is a family holiday and parties are discouraged on this day!
Christmas is a family holiday. Visiting on this day was not encouraged, but if someone visited someone else's house, then he was supposed to be fed to satiety, especially when it came to a tired traveler - after all, Jesus himself could be hiding behind the inconspicuous face of a tramp! The rest of the meal was taken outside to feed the animals and ensure their good attitude throughout the year.
Georgians have always invited a special guest to this celebration - “mekvle”. He was chosen from among healthy, prosperous, respectable people among close friends or relatives. This tradition guaranteed well-being - the mekvle brought sweets and fruits so that the owner's house became a full bowl.
CHRISTMAS IN RUSSIA
In the Soviet Union until 1929, Christmas was a public holiday and a day off and was celebrated according to the Gregorian calendar, but after religious holidays were abolished, most Christmas customs (tree, gifts) switched to celebrating the New Year.
Again, the day of the Nativity of Christ became a day off in 1991: in December 1990, the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR issued a decree declaring the Orthodox Christmas holiday a non-working day. Already on January 7, 1991, it was non-working. However, in some republics of the RSFSR, for example, the Tatar ASSR, this decree was ignored, and the day was recognized as a working day.
On the federal channels of Russian television on the night of Christmas, a solemn divine service is broadcast (after the restoration of the temple - from the Cathedral of Christ the Savior).
WHAT SHOULD BE SERVED ON THE TABLE?
Different dishes are served on Christmas Eve and Christmas. On the eve of Christmas the fast is still going on - January 6 It is customary to put 12 Lenten dishes on the table, which can be tasted only after the ascent of the first star in the sky. The main dish is kutya - porridge made from steamed grains seasoned with honey with crushed nuts and dried apples, plums and pears. Of the main dishes, it is also worth mentioning borscht cooked in mushroom broth, cabbage soup with millet, pea porridge, dumplings and pastries with lean filling.
In our country, Christmas is not complete without fragrant kutya
This evening you can eat fish dishes, so it could not do without a rybnik - a pie stuffed with river fish. After dinner, the Orthodox go to the night service, where they glorify the birth of Christ - the air rings from the hum of bells, and the words “Merry Christmas!” are heard from all sides. It is on Christmas that the post comes to the end, so on January 7 Orthodox prepared all kinds of meat dishes.
The tables on this day were always bursting with homemade smoked and blood sausage, jelly, roast with porridge, boiled pork and kutya seasoned with cracklings. The apogee of the feast was a goose baked with apples. Unlike the Catholic tradition, where a special place on the table is reserved for all kinds of sweets, the Orthodox do not have traditional Christmas baking, so today we are happy to adopt the traditions of our Western neighbors and bake muffins, as well as themed gingerbread cookies decorated with bright icing.
CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS
Christmas opens the period of Christmas festivities, which last for 12 days - right up to Epiphany. Perhaps the most fun and colorful rite of this period can be called the custom of caroling - even in ancient times, our ancestors dressed up in costumes imitating forest animals and mythical creatures, in which they walked around the village, singing carols. In pagan times, carolers could play a bad joke on stingy owners by dismantling the roof of a barn, or even steal and dump a cart into a ravine.
Today, this tradition is more filled with religious themes - young men and women glorify the birth of Christ, and also call happiness and prosperity into the house. In some villages in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, thematic nativity scenes and processions with the Star of Bethlehem are still held. In response to the efforts of carolers, it is customary to give them fruits, pastries and money.
It is interesting that there is a similar custom in Georgia - a male choir called “Alilo” (from the word “Alleluia”) used to go here with Christmas songs, and now children do it. However, in Tbilisi, the tradition of the male Christmas choir is still there - after the service, a whole procession with mummers and representatives of the clergy goes to the main Orthodox church of the country.
Caroling is the most ancient and fun of Christmas traditions.
During the Christmas period, fairs are organized and all kinds of fun are organized, because for our ancestors this time was a blessed rest after a long and hard year of work. Men and women paid family visits, and young people played snowballs, sleigh rides, actively wooed and fortune-telled, because since pagan times this time has been shrouded in mysticism and was considered one of the best in order to look into the future and find out your destiny.
Every unmarried girl wanted to know the name of her betrothed, so the girls went outside the gate at midnight to see a passerby and ask his name (it was believed that the groom would be called exactly the same). Another popular way is to throw your boots out the gate. Where the sock pointed, from there the groom will be.
Today, the traditions of celebrating Christmas are experiencing a rebirth, so everyone is waiting for the holiday - from young to old. Check out the events program for your city, head to the Christmas market to watch performances and taste delicious food, and in the evening, be sure to arrange gatherings with friends to uncover the secrets of the future!
The popularity of the holiday can be judged by doing a small survey among the population of a huge city or a small farm abandoned by all the gods. When asked about their favorite Christian holiday, a clear majority would answer that it is Christmas.
Because there is some kind of magic in this holiday. Therefore, we are waiting
weekend for Christmas 2017 in Russia to celebrate it well.
We celebrate the birthday of Jesus twice. But still we hope that the church will somehow agree, and make one date for Christians of the Western and Eastern rites. In addition to the fact that one event is celebrated on different days, there is another distinguishing feature between the two concessions. For Christians of the Eastern rite, Easter is in the first place in terms of significance. Since it was on this day that Christ, having shouldered our sins, allowed us to live after physical death.
Catholics, on the other hand, put Christmas ahead of Easter and the New Year. If most of our citizens give gifts to each other for the New Year, then Catholics look for gifts at big sales half a month in advance to put them under the tree for Christmas.
How to put into words the beauty of this holiday? Beautiful untouched purity of snow with frost and freshness of firs. And also faith in the triumph of goodness and light. And, of course, the opportunity to tell fortunes and make a wish on the eve of this bright holiday.
History of the celebration
Nowhere, in any religious postulate, can one find the exact date of the birth of Jesus. Before, after all, there were no church books where all the dates of the birth of Christians are entered. Christ was not a slave either. It was the slaves who lived in captivity in Egypt who knew their hour of birth. Until now, records of this are found on clay tablets and papyrus. Each slave owner kept accurate records. But in the kingdom of Israel there was no such custom. But on the other hand, all the most important church books describe where and how little Jesus was born.When the Byzantine emperor Constantine faced the question of the date of the appointment of the Christmas holiday, he once again combined the pagan and Christian celebrations. In December, the pagans, worshiping the host of gods, cast out evil spirits with fire. The arrival of winter was not a very joyful event for them, especially among the tribes of the Polyans and Drevlyans.
Therefore, they lit bonfires, made donations to the gods of light and spring, in order to protect them from frost and cold. So the church decided to combine the celebration of warmth and light during the darkest night with the Nativity of Christ, who also gave us hope for light and rebirth. This is the story of the Nativity of Christ. 2017 indicates how many years have passed since his birth. For more than two millennia, Christians have been waiting for this holiday with joy, welcoming the appearance of the future Savior in this world.
Traditions of celebrating the Nativity of Christ
Before Christmas, as before any great celebration, there is Christmas Eve. Mistresses prepare all day for it, as well as for the actual feast of the birth of Jesus. As before the name day of the closest person, there is a general cleaning in the apartment, and all sorts of goodies hiss and gurgle on the stove. Prepare for Christmas Eve:- sochivo. This is boiled cereals (rice, wheat) with poppy seeds, raisins and honey;
- not modest meals (dishes of mushrooms, cabbage, potatoes, beets, dough);
- dried fruits compote.
The traditions of celebrating the Nativity of Christ, of course, will be observed by the Orthodox. They did not come up with us and it is not for us to violate them. All this is determined by our ancestors, so no innovation is completely unacceptable.
Rest in frosty winter
Celebrate with the whole family. Infrequently, but there is an opportunity to celebrate a holiday in another company and in a new place or a long-loved old one. Or you just don’t want the cold, and the soul is torn to warm lands. Then you can take a ticket in advance and go to celebrate the celebration in another country with other people. It could be the Maldives or Goa, Egypt.Celebrating Christmas under palm trees on a sunny beach is a great idea for a celebration. There is not only the azure of the ocean or the blue of the sea, but also a variety of club parties, fireworks. Everything is quite noisy and fun.
If you like to go sledding or skiing on a well-worn track, then there are places closer - Sochi with its well-developed infrastructure or the Alps. Holidays for Christmas in 2017 are good because the holidays stretched out very comfortably. We rest from 31. 12 to 08. 01 inclusive.
If there is an opportunity to have fun on Catholic Christmas, then it would be a good idea to go to Finland, Santa's home. Four deer in a team are already looking forward to you there to rush along the crisp crust with a breeze. If you have not been to Italy, then it's time to go there. Excursions to historical sites will not leave you completely bored, and watching the pontiff's greeting live is a rare opportunity to get closer to the real perception of the holiday.
Tour operators will provide you with a variety of trips to choose from. Your taste and the size of the wallet capacity will certainly be taken into account. Most Populartours for Christmas in 2017 to European countries. Many tourists like Prague - the birthplace of beer. There are many beer festivals and fairs at this time. Not far from Prague there is a very beautiful majestic Konopiste castle.
Quite close to Czech Republic is Germany and Austria. That one has only to get to the ball in its capital, Vienna. A completely exotic trip can be an absolutely unforgettable cruise on the waters of the Mediterranean Sea.
Forecasters promise that Christmas in 2017 will be snowy and frosty. And we will add warmth to it. Songs and carols, fortune-telling forbidden by the church. But maybe they don't know?